Streptocarpus plant named ‘SLSBW10-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Streptocarpus  cultivar named ‘SLSBW10-0’ is disclosed, characterized by small, pale violet-purple colored flowers and multi-flowering, 6-8 per inflorescence. The new variety is a Streptocarpus, suitable as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Streptocarpus hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘SLSBW10-0’.

The new Streptocarpus cultivar is the product of a planned breedingprogram by the inventor Lynne Dibley, a citizen of United Kingdom. Thebreeding program was carried out at a commercial nursery in Ruthin,United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program was to develop newStreptocarpus varieties for ornamental purposes.

The new variety resulted from the crossing of the seed parent, anunnamed, unpatented proprietary Streptocarpus seedling with the pollenparent, an unnamed, unpatented proprietary Streptocarpus seedling in2008. The new variety was discovered in 2009 by the inventor in a groupof seedlings resulting from the 2008 crossing, at a commercial nurseryin Ruthin, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SLSBW10-0’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed at Dibley's nursery in Ruthin, UnitedKingdom in 2009. Subsequently at least five generations have beenproduced from vegetative cuttings, and have shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SLSBW10-0’ has not observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length and lightintensity, without however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SLSBW10-0’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SLSBW10-0’ as a new and distinct Streptocarpuscultivar:

-   -   1. Small flowers size.    -   2. Pale violet-blue flowers    -   3. Multi-flowering, 6-8 per inflorescence.

COMPARISON TO THE PARENT VARIETIES

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SLSBW10-0’ are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics to plants of the unnamed, unpatented proprietary seedparent. However, the new variety has a larger overall flower and largerleaf size than the seed parent. Additionally, plants of ‘SLSBW10-0’produce different colored flowers than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SLSBW10-0’ are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics to plants of the unnamed, unpatented proprietary pollenparent. However, the new variety has a smaller overall flower and leafsize than the pollen parent. Additionally, plants of ‘SLSBW10-0’ produceflowers of the same color but with different markings than the pollenparent.

COMPARISON TO COMMERCIAL VARIETY

The new cultivar can be compared to the commercial variety ‘HarlequinBlue’, unpatented. Plants of the two cultivars are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘SLSBW10-0’ producemore leaves and smaller leaves than ‘Harlequin Blue’. Additionally,plants of ‘SLSBW10-0’ produce a longer peduncle and flower later than‘Harlequin Blue’.

The new cultivar can be compared to the commercial variety ‘Bethan’,unpatented. Plants of the two cultivars are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘SLSBW10-0’ producelarger flowers with a yellow throat color not found on flower of‘Bethan’. Additionally, plants of ‘SLSBW10-0’ produce shorter peduncles,and no veining on flower lobe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical flower of ‘SLSBW10-0’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical plant of ‘SLSBW10-0’ grown in a greenhouse,in an 8 inch commercial pot. Age of the plant photographed isapproximately 30 weeks from a rooted cutting. The photographs were takenusing conventional techniques and although colors may appear differentfrom actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate aspossible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurement describe ‘SLSBW10-0’ plants grown in a commercialgreenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. The growing temperature ranged fromapproximately 12° C. to 30° C. The greenhouse is subject to partialshade. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight with someshade during the brightest part of the day. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Streptocarpus hybrid ‘SLSBW10-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 20 to 25 days at approximately 21 to    25° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 30 weeks from a well    rooted cutting.-   Pot size of plant described: 12 inch pot.-   Height: Approximately 22 cm from soil line to top of foliar plane.    Approximately 24 cm to top of highest flower.-   Plant spread: Approximately 55 cm at widest point.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching Characteristics: Basal rosettes of foliate, no stem, no    branches.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Quantity.—Average 50 to 60 leaves.        -   Average length.—Approximately 21 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 5.8 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.        -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte.        -   Pubescence.—Very short, less than 1 mm hairs, densely            covering top and bottom leaf surfaces.        -   Aspect.—Somewhat undulating, overall leaf reflexes downward            in older foliage.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138C. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 138B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144C. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144D.        -   Petiole.—Not present, leaves sessile.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Continuous.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Racemes of 6 to 8    asymmetrical funnel shaped flowers.-   Inflorescence longevity on plant: At least 2 weeks before any    significant change is observed.-   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant: Approximately 45 mature    and immature flowers per plant.-   Flowers persistent:-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Diameter of entire inflorescence.—Approximately 10.0 cm.        -   Depth of inflorescence.—Approximately 8.0 cm.-   Individual flower bud:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular, with spherical apex.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Violet-Blue 91D with stripes Violet 86C            stripes, apex Violet 86C.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower length.—7.0 cm.        -   Flower width.—6.0 cm.        -   Upper petals (upper lip).—Number: 2, fused together at base.            Length: 2.5 cm. Width: 2.4 cm. Shape: Obicular. Apex:            Obtuse. Margin: Shallow crenate. Texture: Velvety, all            surfaces. Pubescent outer surface. Color: When opening:            Inner surface: RHS Violet N88C, base striped Violet-Blue            N92A. Outer surface: RHS Violet N87A. Fully opened: Inner            surface: RHS Violet N88C, base striped Violet-Blue N92A.            Outer surface: RHS Violet N88C. Aging: Inner surface: RHS            Violet N88B, base striped Violet-Blue N92A. Outer surface:            RHS Violet N87B.        -   Lower petals (lower lip).—Quantity: 3. Length: 2.3 cm.            Width: 2.2 cm. Shape: Orbicular, fused at base. Apex shape:            Obtuse. Margin: Shallow crenate, undulating. Texture:            Velvety, all surfaces. Pubescent outer surface. Color: When            opening: Inner surface: RHS Violet N88C, veins faintly N88A.            Base blotch Yellow 4B with stripes Violet-Blue N92A. Outer            surface: RHS Violet 86C, faint stripes Violet 86A. Fully            opened: Inner surface: RHS Violet-blue 90D, veins faintly            N88A. Base blotch Yellow 4D, and 4B with stripes Violet-Blue            N92A. Outer surface: RHS Violet 86B, faint stripes Violet            86A. Aging: Inner surface: RHS Violet-blue 90D, veins            faintly N88A. Base blotch White 155B with stripes            Violet-Blue N92A. Outer surface: RHS Violet N87A.        -   Throat.—Length: 3.0 cm. Width: 1 cm, at widest point.            Texture: glabrous, shiny inner surface. Outer surface            pubescent. Color: When opening: Inner surface: RHS Violet            85C with stripes Violet-Blue N92A. Outer surface: RHS Violet            84A, faint stripes Violet 86B. Fully opened: Inner surface:            RHS Violet 85C with stripes Violet-Blue N92A. Outer surface:            RHS Violet 85C, stripes Violet 86A. Aging: Inner surface:            RHS Violet 85D with stripes Violet-Blue N92A. Outer surface:            RHS Violet-Blue 91D with stripes Violet 86B.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—Average 5.        -   Shape.—Narrow deltate, base fused.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.25 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Highly pubescent, all surfaces.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Green 137A. Lower Surface:            Near RHS Green 137A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Longest average 17 cm. Shortest average 9 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Texture.—Densely pubescent.        -   Color.—Near RHS Grey-Brown N199A.        -   Orientation.—Approximately 90 to 75 degree angle from            rosette undulating.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Average range 0.9 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Soft, dense pubescence.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A.        -   Orientation.—Approximately 30 degree angle from peduncle.            Straight, or slightly outwardly curved.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—2.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.8 cm, unfused section.-   Anthers:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Bi-lobed.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161D.        -   Pollen.—Not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Color: Near RHS            Greyed-Purple N187A.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Bifurcate. Color: Near RHS White N155C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistant nor susceptible to normal    diseases and pests of Streptocarpus.-   Temperature tolerance: USDA zones 9 to 11.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Streptocarpusplant named ‘SLSBW10-0’ as herein illustrated and described.